Dear friends, 

I hope you’ve been enjoying the warmer weather today and this weekend. I know it can make it a lot harder to stick with our physical distancing right now, but I want to thank everyone who is continuing to observe public health recommendations. Here’s why: 

Ontario's COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise with today marking the fifth consecutive day that new case numbers surpassed 400. For over a week now, the province's testing numbers have fallen far short of the stated 20,000-test goal.  

We all need to keep doing our part to limit the transmission of COVID-19, but we need the provincial government to do its part by increasing testing. The NDP is pushing for mass testing of asymptomatic people beyond the assessment centres, because simply asking people to show up at assessment centres is not enough. This broader testing needs to include everyone in congregate living situations, systematic workplace testing and random sample testing in the community using mobile assessment centres. 

And as testing concerns call into question the province’s reopening timeline, we know that more and more businesses are finding themselves on the brink of closing up shop. I’ve heard from residents who were alarmed to see business closures and lockouts along St. Clair West over the weekend. Beloved community establishments are being prevented from accessing rent relief because their landlords refuse to participate.  

That federal-provincial rent relief program comes online today (Commercial property owners in Ontario are encouraged to apply tomorrow), but it continues to face criticism. In Ontario, business groups called on Doug Ford to issue a moratorium on commercial evictions, a call he's continuously refused – and Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath again called on him to help stop struggling businesses from going under, and to adopt our plan to Save Main Street, which includes a 75 per cent commercial rent subsidy. 

Here are a few more updates from today: 

• As temperatures rise, I’m happy to see that Wallace-Emerson Community Centre will be available for use as a cooling centre, beginning tomorrow, May 26, with strict infection controls. Please spread the word.  

• NDP Municipal Affairs critic Jeff Burch will table a motion in the Legislature this week that would give emergency financial support to municipalities badly impacted by COVID-19. Burch's motion mirrors a proposal put forward by a coalition of Ontario's municipal leaders and frontline municipal workers. 

• Frontline workers still haven't received the pandemic pay top-up that Ford promised some of them a month ago. According to a letter sent by a group of health care CEOs to the Premier, this failure has led to "extreme morale issues" for frontline staff and created conflict for employers – Andrea Horwath issued a statement calling the Premier’s failure to pay workers “unacceptable,” and reiterating the call for all frontline workers to get a pay raise. The wages must flow immediately, she said, and must be retroactive to the beginning of the crisis. 

• After months of horror stories coming out of long-term care, the Ford government says it will take over two private, for-profit long-term care facilities that are failing to protect residents against COVID-19 - Andrea Horwath says there are many more long-term care homes that should be put under the province's management. For weeks, the NDP has been calling for Ontario to take over direct management of long-term care homes.  

• Justin Trudeau says his government will look at bringing in 10 days of paid sick leave for workers – a policy the federal NDP has been pushing for, and which federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had made conditional upon his party’s support for suspending the full House of Commons sitting schedule - Singh said the NDP will continue pushing the government to make paid sick leave permanent, beyond the pandemic. 
   

In case you missed it:

Supplies drive to support Sistering

Residents in the Dufferin Grove area are organising a support drive for Sistering! Here’s their call for support: 

It's official! Our next #𝗼𝗻𝗲2𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 partner is 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴.𝗼𝗿𝗴), a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially isolated women and trans people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed. 

While many shelters have closed because of COVID, Sistering remains open 24/7. In fact, to accommodate an increase in participants, Sistering has had to move to a larger temporary location. Essential supplies are being used in massive volumes to protect Sistering participants, as well as program staff and case support workers, who continue to meet with almost 3,000 at-risk women and trans people both onsite and in the community annually. 

Will you help us change the donation mindset from large-but-finite to small-and sustainable by answering Sistering's simple - but critically important - list of needs? 

*New underwear 

*Incontinence underwear 

*Toiletries 

*Gift cards 

Tims, McDonald’s - $5/$10 

No Frills, Walmart - $25 

Our delivery day to Sistering will be June 8th 12-2 at the Sistering site. Leading up to this date, we'll have drop-off locations throughout the city. (If you can't be there between 12-2 on June 8, send an email to sarah.rubenstein@gmail.com for a local drop-off location.) 

And remember, no donation is too small.

YMCA at Home 

While our West End Y remains closed, you can still take advantage of the great programming with YMCA at Home, a free, virtual Y connecting people to at-home workouts, children’s programs and physical activity, and personal wellness resources. 

All the content is created by YMCA volunteers and instructors from across Canada who are committed to helping Canadians stay healthy and connected to their communities. Activities are tailored for all levels and audiences including adults, families, kids, youth and older adults. Content includes:  

·       YThrive: At home fitness + workouts for all ages and stages.  

·       YWell: Programs for mental health and wellness from meditation to leadership development.  

·       YPlay: Activities for children and all families to do at home.  

·       YGym: Physical activity recommended for children ages 5-9 (both English and French available)  

·       YHealth: Coming soon!  

You can learn more on our YMCA at Home website: www.ymcahome.ca and on the Y’s social media pages: www.facebook.com/ymcahome and www.instagram.com/ymcahome 

Public Health Updates

Toronto.ca/coronavirus

Information from Toronto Public Health on local cases, how to protect yourself and where to seek further medical support.

Ontario.ca/coronavirus

Information from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Find out how to protect yourself, what to do if you’re sick and how to recognize possible symptoms. Updated twice daily, in 30 languages.

Canada.ca/coronavirus

Information from the Government of Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Updates on the national response and access to emergency support benefits.